About This Tutorial for How to Find an International Job or Internship

This free tutorial is full of expert career advice for helping students and recent grads finding foreign employment — internships or jobs — overseas.

People have all sorts of reasons for working internationally ranging from wanting to make a difference in an underdeveloped part of the world to gaining the international experience necessary to move up the corporate ladder.

In the past when people talked about working abroad it was more typically in volunteering or other low-paid positions but increasingly students and recent grads are seeking out internships and paid positions to gain traction for their futures.

This tutorial is designed for all students — whatever your reasons — to assist in finding employment overseas.

Where to begin? We suggest you go through all the steps of the tutorial but feel free to just jump in wherever you feel you need helpful advice and resources. Follow this link to a map of the tutorial or simply use the right arrow below to begin the tutorial.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Alex’s International Internship

Alex’s International Internship Story

Here is one student’s personal account of how her international internship… Alex’s story.

I knew from early on — perhaps in high school — that my two passions were traveling abroad and helping people. I wasn’t sure how these were going to work together or become some sort of career, but I knew that somehow I could combine these into a life.

It all started with taking years of Spanish in high school. I took Spanish, not just because I lived in Florida, but because I have always loved the culture of Latin America. I had never traveled to the region, but had an Aunt who did and who shared many stories with me.

Once I got to college, I decided that the best way to combine my passions was to attempt a dual major in Spanish and International Business.

In my junior year, I had a chance to study abroad in Mexico and jumped at the chance. During my spring semester there, I made many contacts through some amazing people I met — and I was able to have a choice of two internships that summer. Getting an internship through this method was awesome because I did not have to deal with any of the redtape from the Mexican government.

I chose an internship with a small start-up that had a big mission. I loved that the work I did could have a big impact — and I loved that I only had a small group of co-workers, and that well all bonded so well. Of course, my Spanish got even better, as did my business skills.

At the end of the summer, I returned for my senior year in college, more determined than ever to work in Latin America.

After I graduated, I consider working for the Peace Corps, but ended up using my contacts from my time in Mexico, I was able to land short-term jobs in both Chile and Argentina.

I then returned to the U.S. to earn my MBA in international finance.

Postscript: I currently work for a multinational food supply company as a business analyst for the Latin American region. I love the job. I get to travel throughout the region working for a company whose mission is to help feed the world.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Benefits of Working Internationally

Personal Benefits of Working Internationally

Working and living overseas — even for just a short time — is a great opportunity for personal growth.

Some students and recent grads decide to work abroad to help them clarify their career and life goals. Working and living in a foreign culture — away from the pressures of home — gives you the chance to discover more about yourself and what you want from life.

For students who have lived very sheltered lives — ones in which helicopter parents swooped in at the sign of any troubles — living truly independently half a world away is an amazing opportunity to grow and mature into adulthood.

Finally, working and living abroad — even if for just a short period — opens a window to a more global perspective of things, along with a great appreciation of other cultures, and perhaps a better understanding of others.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Career Networking Overview

Career Networking Overview

No matter what the size of your network of contact now, you can grow it even more to uncover international job leads.

Many job-seekers comment that they come from small families, don’t have many friends, and simply have a very small network to work with. Well, it does not matter what size your network is now; what matters is the strategy you can use to grow and expand your network — even tailoring it to finding more international contacts.

Besides making full use of your personal network — which also includes former bosses and co-workers, professors, coaches, religious leaders — there are also some other key sources of network contacts that can help you get closer to your goal of working internationally.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Career Networking Sources on Campus

Career Networking Sources on Campus

There are some great networking opportunities right on your campus for uncovering international job leads.

Use all the resources available at your college:

Alumni Office. Just about all colleges have alumni working in all parts of the world. Go to the alumni office and see if there are alumni willing to help you.

Career Services Office. These professionals are the most underutilized folks on most college campuses and a great source for directing you to key resources.

Study Abroad Office. These folks have connections all over the world in relation to the study-abroad programs your college participates in, so seek their assistance in international contacts.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Final Thoughts About Working Abroad

Final Thoughts About Working Abroad

In the end, whatever your reasons for wanting an international experience, the result will be to help further your career.

Obtaining some international experience has become key to career advancement in just about any organization. Employers seek cross-cultural competency, defined as an ability to work well in different cultures and with people of different origins — in a multicultural environment that may or may not be located in the U.S.

But it is not really the international experience itself that adds value to the job-seeker; instead, it the experience in terms of the transferable skills that you develop while abroad and how they can be applied to the workplace.

Before we end this tutorial, we want to share some international internship stories with you — real stories from real students.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Follow-Up International Job Leads

Following-Up International Job Leads and Opportunities

Follow-up is always essential for job-seekers, but perhaps even more important for an overseas opportunity.

Following-up international job leads is a little trickier than in the U.S. You’ll still want to write thank-you notes after job interviews and pursue all job leads, but in some countries and cultures, making the traditional follow-up phone call that we recommend for U.S. job-seekers might be seen as too aggressive and rude.

One way to follow-up is to use a network contact, mentor, or organizational sponsor to follow-up for you.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Gather Your Health Records!

First Things First: Gather Your Health Records!

You’ll want to prepare beforehand and make sure all your immunizations are current.

If you’re in currently in college, as part of the requirement for admission, you are probably current with all your immunizations required for the U.S. If you’re not in college, you’ll want to review your records and consider getting any boosters — even before you finalize your travel plans.

So, first step is having a copy of these records in a safe, but handy location.

Finally, for travel to certain parts of the world, you should know that you may be required to get additional immunizations before you can enter various countries.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Get Your Passport!

First Things First: Get Your Passport!

Plan ahead and obtain your passport now if you don’t already have one.

One of the smartest things you can do — even if you end up not working abroad immediately — is to obtain your passport as soon as you can if you do not have one yet.

A passport is an internationally recognized travel document issued by the U.S. Department of State that verifies your identity and nationality. A valid passport is needed to enter and leave most foreign countries.

The application time continues to take longer and currently takes at least 6 to 8 weeks to get one — and you cannot apply for a visa (permission to enter and work in a foreign country) until you have it.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Ideal Length of International Work

Deciding Upon the Ideal Length of the International Work Experience

Before you begin your international job-search, figure out how long a work experience you seek.

One of the big questions that you need to answer is how long an international experience are you looking for because that answer has several implications.

If you’re thinking short-term — a semester-long (or summer) internship — there are several organizations that can help facilitate your experience (for a fee)… and even if you go about the internship-hunt on your own, you’ll likely have more success — and faster — than for a longer-term employment stint.

If you’re thinking long-term, your two main choices are finding an organization to sponsor you (to help you obtain a work permit/visa) or using one of the short-term programs as a stepping-stone to a more permanent position.

One option for either short- or long-term employment is teaching English as a second language — which is possible in just about all non-English speaking countries around the world. And depending on demand, you can often find a program that will pay for your airline flight and accommodations, as well as provide a salary or stipend. (And, again, you could use the year while you are teaching to establish contacts and find a job closer to your career field.)

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Identifying Career Goals

Identifying Career Goals

You should also examine your career goals and aspirations before starting your international job search.

Your next step is spending some time evaluating and identifying your career goals. What is it that you want to do with your life? If that’s just too overwhelming for you, how about, what do want to be doing for the next phase of your life — post graduation?

Knowing your career goals can help give you great direction in searching out and obtaining the best international experience — the best career-enhancing experience.

Or for example, if you see yourself working in diplomatic relations, finding an internship or job in a governmental or cultural agency would be an ideal stepping stone for you. However, if your goal is working for a multinational corporation, then some type of corporate or industrial experience would make more sense. Finally, if your career goals focus more on attending graduate school, then you may want to seek experience that will enhance your graduate program.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: International Job Interview

Succeeding in the International Job Interview

Here’s a look at the comparison between a regular job interview and an international job interview.

An interview with an international organization will have many similarities with a job interview here at home… you’ll want to complete a lot of preparation for it, including developing answers to commonly asked questions, researching the company, knowing your strengths and weaknesses — and what you can offer the employer.

But there are some differences. Of course, the first different may be that the interview is conducted in the local language and not English — always a good test of your fluency.

Another difference deals with cultural issues, such as etiquette. It’s best to research a country’s basic cultural and business practices before you conduct the interview. For example, there are issues of how people perceive time (monochromic vs. polychromic) and personal space (the distance between people when they talk to each other; Americans tend to require more personal space than in other cultures.) that can have a dramatic impact on an interview.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Job-Hunting is Job-Hunting

Job-Hunting is Job-Hunting

Looking for a job internationally parallels looking for a job domestically — and we’ll take you through the steps.

One last comment before we fully dive into the steps you need to follow to land that foreign internship or job.

As you’ll see on the following slides, much of looking for a job internationally parallels looking for a job domestically. You still need to know the type of job you’re seeking. You still need to research employers. You still need to know your unique advantage (your mix of education, skills, and accomplishments). You still need to put many, many hours into first finding job leads and then into applying for jobs. And you still need to know how to interview well.

But don’t fret if you’re not a job-hunting expert. We’ll take you through all the steps — and always provide you with links to other parts of Quintessential Careers (articles and other tutorials) in which you can take side trips to learn more about various aspects of job-hunting.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Knowing What You Offer Employers

Knowing What You Offer Prospective Employers

In the international job market, just as domestically, you need to be able to clearly (and convincingly) articulate what you offer prospective employers.

Consider developing an international elevator speech/pitch — a short description of the several key reasons why an employer should consider you for a position. An example: “I am fluent in Spanish, am completing my degree in international business, possess solid computer skills, have held several jobs and internships in which I worked in several key areas of business — including marketing, management, and operations — and am an excellent communicator with excellent people and organizational skills.” (Read more about creating elevators speeches here.)

Another way to look at this issue is using an advertising term labeled the Unique Selling Proposition (USP). (Learn more about USPs here.)

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Legal Obstacles to Working

Legal Obstacles to Working in a Foreign Country

There’s typically much more governmental “red tape” that you’ll have to deal with in working in a foreign country.

Some foreign governments have always been wary of foreign workers, but the sad state of the world today sometimes makes it even harder for a person to find work in a foreign country.

You’ll, of course, need a passport. More than that, though you may need to obtain a work visa — and in some cases, have a company lined up to sponsor you. The best source of information for the legal requirements of foreign workers is to contact the embassy or consulate of the country in which you seek to work or intern.

Because of some of these legal aspects, a number of organizations (discussed later in the tutorial) handle just about all aspects of finding an internship for you — they secure the work permit and the internship, sometimes even arranging your travel for you. The catch? You’ll have to pay a program fee while also being limited to the internships they offer.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Maria’s International Internship

Maria’s International Internship Story

Here is one student’s personal account of how her international internship… Maria’s story.

My internship in Granada was an amazing experience. It allowed me to see another whole aspect of Spanish life. I had studied in abroad in Spain for about four months and during that period received an email from my university’s study abroad office about this internship working for the Union Iberoamericano de Municipalistas. I wanted to stay in Spain a while longer so I applied. The application process simply consisted of sending an email to the UIM that told them why I would be a great candidate for the position. I did not have to go through a formal interview process.

Eventually I found out I got the position! I was so excited and a bit nervous at the same time. I wasn’t very sure what to expect but I knew that regardless of my fears, it was going to be one of the best experiences of my life.

I worked for the UIM for about a month. It wasn’t that long but in that month I picked up on a lot. The main thing that stuck out in my mind was the fact that I was no longer speaking my first language. I have become pretty comfortable with speaking Spanish, although this was not always the case. I did not have the option in Granada because everyone spoke Spanish. They knew it was a tough situation and their understanding of the challenge made me more comfortable. It made me realize that I could make mistakes when speaking and that I shouldn’t feel embarrassed about it because after all it isn’t my first language.

I thought I was going to be judged and was more apprehensive about things but the reassured me that they understood how difficult it was for me. I can honestly say that the Spanish in general are very understanding and compassionate.

Another neat thing was that everyday we would take a break, which usually lasted a little over half an hour, where we would go to a nearby cafe for coffee and toast. It was a really great chance for me to get to know my co-workers much better. We would usually go in small groups that would change on a daily basis. It provided for a more comfortable setting where we would talk about various things from traveling to work to future plans. It was something I looked forward to everyday and not just because there was food involved!

Aside from the language barrier, I didn’t encounter too many problems. I had a great time and it was awesome to see that side of Spanish culture. Everyone was very welcoming and accepting of me.

The people I worked with were also much older than I was so they were a bit surprised to find out that I was only 21. However, at the end of the internship I knew I had done a great job because they let me know how much they appreciated the work that I had done. In fact, they even threw me a small going away party. I knew that they appreciated the work I had done.

After completing my internship, I can honestly say that I could see myself working their in the near future.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: More International Interviewing Tips

More International Job Interviewing Tips

Here are some key tips and resources for helping you succeed in the international job interview.

Unlike in the U.S.:

Age, race, gender, marital status — illegal questions in the U.S. — may be topics asked in the interview

In certain cultures, much emphasis is placed on showing respect to elders (and especially male elders)

Speaking too much about yourself and your accomplishments can be seen as too self-serving and individualistic

Proceed carefully when asking about the next steps in the process as it can be seen as to forward or rude to do so

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Opportunities for Working Abroad

Opportunities for Working Abroad

You’ll find that there are many different types of international work opportunities.

Whether looking for a short-term internship or a longer-term job in a foreign country, you’ll find many different types of opportunities to gain the international experience you seek.

Typically five types of international experiences are available for students and recent grads:

internship/job with local company in foreign country

internship/job with a multinational company in foreign country

internship/job with U.S. governmental agency (referred to as foreign service)

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Other Career Networking Sources

Other Career Networking Sources

There are also some great online networking sources for uncovering international job leads.

Also take advantage of some of the many social and professional networking sites on the Web. Some may even be international in scope, which is great, but remember that the power of networking is the web of connections it creates, so even a purely domestic networking site can lead to valuable connections with international contacts.

Finally, consider joining one or more professional organizations. Many of these groups are either international organizations or part of a larger network of international organizations. Not only do many of these organizations have conferences and other networking opportunities, but many also have career and job boards as well.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Other Considerations for Working Abroad

Other Considerations for Working Abroad

Here are a few things to think about as you go about searching for an overseas job or internship.

As you are thinking about the ideal international experience you seek, also consider these choices:

Do you prefer:

working/living in an urban setting or more rural environment?

working in a small or large company?

working in an office or in the field?

Furthermore, you should try and narrow down the kind of work you wish to do and the kind of job experiences you seek.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Pinpointing Regions of World

Pinpointing Regions of the World/Countries in Which to Work

Another key issue you need to decide is in what part of the world — and in particular what country — you wish to work.

It certainly makes sense to choose a country that speaks a language in which you are already fluent, but many opportunities are available for you to learn a foreign language. And, of course, if you plan to teach English as a second language, you certainly do not need to be fluent in a foreign language.

Once you have narrowed your choices, take the time to conduct a little research and learn more about the country — its culture, politics, economics, etc.

Of course, if you are lucky enough to hold dual citizenships in the U.S. and the country in which you wish to have your international experience, the process is much easier.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Planning Ahead to Work Abroad

Planning Ahead to Work Abroad

The best preparation for an international work experience is an in-depth study of the language and culture of several prospective countries.

One of the most important steps you can take BEFORE jumping into searching for a job or internship is immersing yourself into a study of the country’s and/or region’s culture and language.

Just as the best organizations plan years ahead — studying the culture, politics, economy, etc. — before deciding whether to enter a new market, you should also take some time to do the same. Immersing yourself into learning as much as possible about a few countries will not only help you decide if that’s where you really want to work and live, but also help you once you arrive.

And it goes without saying that you should have taken several years of language and be able to speak the language of the country fluently, as well as be able to read and write clearly.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Preparing International CV

Preparing a CV — Not a Resume

You may already have your resume prepared, but in Europe and other parts of the world, employers expect to receive your CV (curriculum vitae) — not your resume.

While you may be fairly familiar with a resume, when you are applying for international jobs and internships you may be asked instead to submit your curriculum vitae (CV).

A CV is similar to a resume in terms of providing an overview of your academic and work experience, including your accomplishments and qualifications, but it typically does so in much more detail — and often includes a few other elements not found on a resume, such as date and place of birth, country of citizenship, visa status, gender, and marital status. Some CVs also include a picture of the job-seeker.

CV conventions are different from country to country, so do a little research to know the exact style acceptable for the country in which your overseas internship will occur.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Professional Benefits

Professional Benefits From an International Experience

The experience you’ll gain from working abroad will have many benefits for you in your professional career.

You don’t have to be an international business or international relations major or graduate to gain valuable professional experience from living and working abroad. Just about all companies, organizations, and governments are affected — to varying degrees — by international trade and foreign competition. Thus, your international experience will come in handy in virtually any field you enter.

The ideal scenario is that you find work abroad that is similar to what you plan to do back in the states; however other work experiences, such as teaching English as a foreign language in Asia or volunteering with the Peace Corps in South Africa, will also provide you with extremely valuable skills that you’ll be able to relate to your professional job. (Read more about transferable skills here.)

The other benefit is gaining that international experience immediately. Most U.S. companies that hire new graduates require them to work domestically for at least a few years before sending them off on international assignments.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Reasons to Work Internationally

Focusing on the Reason to Work Internationally

Before you begin looking for an overseas job you need to know the reasons for working internationally.

Probably one of the most important things you need to reflect upon is your reasons for desiring to work internationally.

The reasons you choose are important because different motives for working abroad can lead to very different experiences. For example, if the main reason for working abroad is to simply encounter new experiences and cultures, then you’ll have a much easier time — with many more opportunities — than someone who is looking to gain professional work experience.

So, your first step is to determine your specific reason — or reasons — for working abroad.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Researching Prospective Employers

Researching Prospective Employers

One of the most important elements of any job-search — including seeking overseas work — is conducting research on prospective employers.

Once you’ve narrowed your choices down to a region of the world — or down to a specific country — the next step is to develop a list of prospective employers with offices/plants/locations in that area and find as much about the employer as possible. You’ll want to research each local company, and, if they are part of a larger organization, research the larger organization as well.

The more knowledge you have about prospective employers, the better your job-search.

In some cases, you may even be able to search the company Website for possible jobs, learn if they hire/sponsor foreign workers, and post your CV.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Seeking International Work

Unique Aspects of Seeking International Work

While many aspects of job-hunting in the U.S. are the same internationally, there are some unique elements.

While you’ll soon see quite a number of parallels between job-hunting in the U.S. and job-hunting in a foreign country, aspects of seeking an international work experience are unique.

You’ll have to deal with language and cultural differences in learning about opportunities and developing your resume or CV, and time and distance issues in trying to schedule interviews. You’ll likely also find fewer information sources, thus limiting how much you’ll be able to research the company.

Certainly none of these unique elements are insurmountable — they simply add another layer of difficulty in finding work overseas and will require you to have more patience.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Site Map to Working Abroad Tutorial

Site Map to the Tutorial

This free tutorial is about helping students and recent grads finding employment — internships or jobs — overseas. Use this site map to find the specific advice you seek.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Sources of International Job Leads

Using Other Sources of International Job Leads

Here’s a short directory of other resources to assist you in finding job leads and better understanding the international job market.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Suggestions for Experienced Workers

Working Abroad Suggestions for Experienced Workers

Experienced workers should have an easier time tracking down international job leads — though other parts may be a bit harder.

Even though much of this tutorial is geared to college students and recent grads, experienced workers can use most of the hard advice in this tutorial — perhaps with some modifications — to search for a job overseas. You’ll also typically have more advantages than college students because your professional network of contacts, a key source for finding job leads of any kind, should be much more developed.

The only aspects of this tutorial that will not apply to you are the Websites and other resources that are specifically targeted to college students. The rest of the tutorial — the advice — should come in handy, even if only as a refresher for you before you begin searching for that new job.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Tapping into Your Career Network

Tapping into Your Career Network — Domestic and Global

Networking is the best tool you’ll find for uncovering job leads — domestically and internationally.

Maybe you’ve heard it too many times before — or maybe you’ve never heard it — but in job-hunting, the best tool you have for uncovering job leads, domestic or international, is your network of contacts. The vast majority of jobs are found through networking.

The cliche goes, it’s not what you know, but who you know. In job-hunting, it goes one deeper: it’s who knows you.

If you have never used your network of contacts before, try it. You’ll be amazed at the number of people you know — relatives, family friends, classmates, friends, co-workers, etc. — who know someone who currently lives in the foreign country you want to work in — or knows someone who does… and that’s how the process works. Someone who knows you talks with someone they know and then they connect the two of you.

For more information on this important topic, hit the right arrow button to review our Career Networking Overview.

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Working Abroad Tutorial: Testing Your Global Job Readiness

Testing Your Global Job Readiness

The final test of how prepared you are to seek, find, and succeed in the global job market.

Do you have what it takes to work internationally? Are you a home-body or an adventure-seeker? Are you ethnocentric or open to new cultures? Do you feel as though you’re ready to work abroad?

Maximize your career and job-search knowledge and skills! Take advantage of The Quintessential Careers Content Index, which enables site visitors to locate articles, tutorials, quizzes, and worksheets in 35 career, college, job-search topic areas.